Preflight on MD80 revealed taped cabin pressurization static port.

Attributes
ACN	569601
Time
Date	200212
Day	Mon
Place
Locale Reference	airport : clt.airport
State Reference	NC
Altitude	agl single value : 0
Environment
Light	Night
Aircraft 1
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	MD-80 Super 80
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	ground : preflight
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
ASRS Report	569601
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : less severe maintenance problem : improper maintenance non adherence : company policies non adherence : published procedure
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	other
Consequence	other other
Factors
Maintenance	performance deficiency : training performance deficiency : inspection
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Maintenance Human Performance
Primary Problem	Maintenance Human Performance

Narrative:

During the originating preflight, the cabin pressurization static port was found taped. No one on the ground was sure how it happened until we found out that clt is contracting to have the bellies of aircraft washed overnight. It seems the tape was left on the aircraft inadvertently. The preflight was in the dark. Fortunately, the tape was yellow.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: PREFLT ON MD80 REVEALED TAPED CABIN PRESSURIZATION STATIC PORT.

Narrative: DURING THE ORIGINATING PREFLT, THE CABIN PRESSURIZATION STATIC PORT WAS FOUND TAPED. NO ONE ON THE GND WAS SURE HOW IT HAPPENED UNTIL WE FOUND OUT THAT CLT IS CONTRACTING TO HAVE THE BELLIES OF ACFT WASHED OVERNIGHT. IT SEEMS THE TAPE WAS LEFT ON THE ACFT INADVERTENTLY. THE PREFLT WAS IN THE DARK. FORTUNATELY, THE TAPE WAS YELLOW.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of July 2007 and automatically converted to unabbreviated mixed upper/lowercase text. This report is for informational purposes with no guarantee of accuracy. See NASA's ASRS site for official report.